Humanities 10: Global Perspectives
Nicholson: 2010/11
Term 4: Convergence
Post WWII – Current Events/Persepolis, Swallows of Kabul, The White Tiger
Course and Expectations
The term 4 Humanities 10 course is an intellectual and humanistic exploration into the theme of Convergence through the events of the world from1600 to the present day. The course emphasizes critical reasoning and imaginative investigation in order to draw out the more difficult and profound ideas and questions of our time; the course utilizes history, literature, philosophy, religion, art and science to investigate its subject matter. It’s subject matter is the following essential questions:
Essential Questions
1. Are human rights universal?
2. Can there be human rights without God?
3. Does capitalism conflict with human rights?
4. What are the most important problems of the 21st century?
5. Is globalization a good thing?
6. What is justice in a global society?
7. Can non-Western states be “modern”?
8. To what degree are corporations the modern state?
Grading and Assessment
Your grade in this class will be a reflection of several elements including Inquiry-based learning (which includes, but is not limited to Harkness), writing, attitude, projects, quizzes and other opportunities to learn. There are two essentials grades that you will receive: a performance grade and a process grade. A performance grade reflects anything that is an objective benchmark for the class and that is immediately graded on its own merits, such as a paper, a quiz, a worksheet, etc. A process grade reflects your own development in four key skill areas: writing, critical thinking, interactional engangement and academic study habits. Your process grade will be the result of how well you achieve the your goals as discussed by me and you ever few weeks. You will be evaluated in all four process areas. Your performance grade counts for 60% of your composite grade for the course; your process grade counts for 40%.
Discussion, Participation, Attitude
The class is heavily driven by student discussion and interaction. Your cooperation, attention, ability to listen and contribute will be critical. Some discussions will be formal and others won’t be. Remain, therefore, attentive, engaged, prepared, and willing to take a chance. Even if you are a quiet type, discussion, participation and attitude are critical skills to develop, so shyness is not an acceptable excuse for silence. Your attitude is a key part of the class. Being a generous listener, coming to class prepared and ready to discover, staying focused and attentive will pay dividends at grading time. Do yourself a favor and always come prepared.
Writing
You will do a great deal of writing this term, and some kind of writing will be done every day. Some will be graded, some won’t. Some will be formal, some won’t. Some will be personal, and some will be analytical, and some will be creative. Some you will share with your peers, some you won’t share at all, some only I will see. The rubric I will use should be your guide during the writing process since it will tell you exactly what is expected for each assignment. In addition to the final product, you will participate in the evaluation of your own writing.
Projects
You will do a variety of individual and group projects this year. You will be graded on the final result but also on the process. A project might be the creation of a website or power point, an oral presentation to the class, or something else altogether.
Friday Assessments
These happen nearly every week. Be ready for them; they can add up. Friday assessments will count for performance grades, but like all other work in the class they will count toward your process grade as well.
Attendance
This class is very discussion driven. That is, every day your ability and willingness to participate in discussions will be assessed. Occasionally discussions themselves will be graded. Since discussion and other group activities are so critical, and because they are activities which, by their very natures, cannot be performed alone, your attendance is critical. Much of what you miss cannot be ‘made up’. Absences are inevitable but it is important that you and your parents understand why they are so problematic for this course.
Computer Use
Laptops are only to be used at times indicated by me. When I ask you to close them, they will remain closed until I tell you to open them again. You may not take notes using your computers unless I give you permission. For that purpose, you need to have a notebook for this class. Inappropriate computer uses, such as chatting or emailing during class, are crimes punishable by death.
Supplies
You will need a notebook of some kind for notes, handouts, etc. A binder would probably be the best thing. You also need to have a journal…a single subject notebook you can leave in the classroom.
Texts
Ways of the World
Persepolis
Swallows of Kabul
The White Tiger
My Promises to You: What comes next is what I promise to you about what will happen in this class to help you learn, develop your own ideas and opinions, understand the course material, and improve your writing, thinking and speaking
I promise that:
- You are entitled to your own opinion
- You will have your opinions and beliefs challenged by me and your peers
- You will develop valid reasons for your opinions
- You will be able to make valid arguments while speaking and writing
- You will leave this class understanding what it means to live, and vote, and consume in this crazy world
- You will be able understand current events and how they affect you
- You will understand what globalization is and how it affects you
- I will meet with each of you individually at least once every few weeks to chat about your progress, what you need to work on, etc.
- I will listen to you about what needs to happen to make this a course that’s good for all of us
- I will return your work within a week of receiving it
- You will become a stronger, more confident writer and thinker
- I will give you the benefit of the doubt unless you prove not to need it
- I will grade your work fairly and that you will know what I expect at all times
- You will get mad and frustrated sometimes and have fun most of the time
Term 4 Major Skills Emphasis
- Critical Thinking: Analysis and evaluation
- Writing: Sentences, Paragraphs, Thesis, Organization, Hook, Link, Verb Agreement,
Pronouns, Tenses, Conclusion, Vocabulary, Spelling
- Academic Habits: Organization, Preparation, Questions, Notes
6 comments:
I have never traveled to Japan or even out of the country alone, however, with knowledge regarding the differences of America’s culture compared to other countries such as Japan I doubt American citizens would have enough “stalwart” characteristics to even attempt being a ‘nuclear samurai.’ Of course we have marines with enough courage to stick their heads up over sand berms gazing for opposing forces, but it’s the difference of what marines have compared to the ‘nuclear samurai.’ Marines still have that slim chance of survival but the ‘nuclear samurai,’ their only ultimatum is death. Dying is one of the scariest factors of every Americans life, it is not wanted but when it is necessary in order to solve a problem Americans scatter around hiding, slouching in their seats, hoping someone else will step up to the plate. We here quotes such as, “Somebody was going to have to do it,” but these quotes arise when that slim chance of life is still granted. I can only hope a quote like this will be stated if an American ‘nuclear samurai’ is needed to step up to the plate but until then I think the frightening battle of death conquers the American citizens. All of my credit goes out to the Tokyo Electric Power Company employees for not letting death hold them back for an act of greatness.
When talking about rights, I question whether or not it is was really the decision of the 500 men to go into the radioactive plant. These men definitly deserve to be called "samurais", but I worry that it was the company that is forcing this decision upon them. I also wonder if the families of the workers who will most likely die from the radioactivity will be able to support themselves after they are gone. If so, is this a voilation of rights.
I found the article "Japan's 'nuclear samurai'" to be extremely intriguing and inspiring. I can't even fathom how much courage, strength, bravery, and valor it must have taken for these men to step up to the plate and practically give up their lives in exchange for the safety of their country. I don't even think I could even being to express how much honor and loyalty being a nuclear samurai requires. The 500 men that are willing to risk their lives in order to save the people in their country are the perfect definition of honor and loyalty. They also don't complain; they know what is coming and still maintain a positive attitude. One worker even adds, "If we're in hell now, all we can do is crawl up towards heaven." These men definitely deserve to be honored for their services and sacrifices for not only Japan, but for the world.
Thanks to the courageous Japanese workers who are putting their lives on the line to clean up the nuclear radiation. Based on the workers rights, I believe that they are doing a great job and are honoring their country and their families. They are doing more than what they have as rights. Even though it is dangerous for them to be there, the government isn’t doing anything to stop them. They know that it will kill the 600 workers, but they are letting them go out in high radiation. I feel that the government is violating the worker’s rights by allowing them to go into the highly radioactive areas. The government knows that it is very dangerous to be out there but they are still letting them to continue. They shouldn’t let the 600 workers become exposed to the radiation and should try and have other people to fix the problem, not the 600 workers. I know they wanted to do it but, the government should try to prevent them from doing it.
I disagree with you, Luther. Although on the Universal Declaration of human rights, Article 3 is that “Everyone has the right to life, liberty and security of person.” But Article 1 states that “All human beings are born free…and should act towards one another in a spirit of brotherhood.” Although everyone hates the thought of those workers being slowly (or quickly) killed, I think it was their right to do so, and the government of Japan had no right to stop them because it would be clashing with their freedom of choice, and interrupting this devoted act of “brotherhood” they are giving not only to their country but to the world effected by radiation. I don’t think being a nuclear samurai is extremely different from being a soldier in a dangerous war zone. They too are there for their country and in their free choice to act.
These 'nuclear samurai' are doing a great deed for many people of Japan. They are risking their health to repair equipment from leaking radiation. Unlike Abby Jeffirs, I do not worry that the workers are being forced to work in the radiation. I believe that they are willing to do what is needed to save their country from harm, just like soldiers do in the army to protect their country. They have the right to do what they want and work in radioactive water. I also believe that if they were somehow being forced like Abby said then they would still have the right to say "no" I do not want to do this and they would most likely be able to get out of this job, someway and somehow.
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